Grassroots Coalition Urges Senate to Improve Food Safety Bill
Oregon Rural Action joined with twenty other grassroots farm, ranch, organic producers and consumers, and holistic health organizations signed a joint letter urging U.S. Senators to make changes in pending federal food safety legislation to ensure that the option to select fresh, wholesome, locally produced and processed foods is not denied to consumers.
One Size Does Not Fit All When It Comes to Food Safety Legislation
Earlier this month, Oregon Rural Action joined twenty grassroots farm, ranch, organic producers and consumers, and holistic health organizations in signing a joint letter urging U.S. Senators to make changes in pending federal food safety legislation to ensure that the option to select fresh, wholesome, locally produced and processed foods is not denied to consumers. The House passed H.R.2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, in July and the Senate will soon be taking up S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act sponsored by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin.
“Both bills attempt to get at the problem of food-borne pathogens in the industrial food supply chain, where issues of traceability and accountability are a challenge,” said Jeanne Charter, Northern Plains Resource Council member and rancher who direct markets grassfed beef in Montana. “The food safety bills in Congress bring direct market farmers and small local processors under an onerous regulatory regime, when these small producers represent a viable alternative to industrialized foods, and also are regulated by longstanding local and state public health and agricultural laws. When it comes to food safety, one size does not fit all.”
“Under existing laws, organic farmers go through an extensive and expensive certification process,” Alexis Baden-Meyer of the Organic Consumers Association pointed out. “Congress would now overlay that with another cumbersome layer of regulations applicable to farmers who are selling locally grown organic food direct to consumers.”
"More inspections and red tape will not make our food supply any safer,” according to William A. Powers of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. “Look at all the beef recalls, each beef is 'inspected,' but that does not make it safe. We need to address the root causes for food contamination. The food safety bills under consideration are trying to address traceability and accountability. There is no better way to trace food and be held accountable then selling your products directly to the customer. The farmer sees the customer eye-to-eye, shakes her hand, and eats the same food. We need food safety laws that are size and case specific."
“The growing trend toward healthy, fresh, locally sourced vegetables, meats, fruit, dairy and value-added products improves food safety by providing the opportunity for consumers to know their farmers and processors, to choose products on the basis of that relationship, and to readily trace any problems should they occur,” the letter points out. “Food safety in the industrial food system with its long, multi-sourced food supply chains, can and should be addressed without harming the local food systems that provide an alternative for consumers.”
“Every week throughout spring, summer and fall, thousands of Oregonians shop at farmers markets. More and more small farmers, including producers of responsibly raised and slaughtered poultry, pork, lamb and beef, are marketing directly to restaurants, institutions and families. Oregon continues to be at the forefront of the local food movement and our local foods are a part of our identity,” assert Phil and Diane Greif, members of Oregon Rural Action and local producers of fruit, vegetables and meat in Elgin, Oregon. “As small, direct-market farmers, we're concerned that a one-size-fits-all approach to federal oversight of even the smallest of direct-market farms and processors will have a chilling effect on local food producers and processors.”
The letter calls on Congress to remove from the federal legislation provisions for local processors who process local foods for local markets and direct market farmers, along with avoiding double regulations on meat, poultry , and organic farms, and holding the Food and Drug Administration accountable for its regulatory oversight.
Download and read the letter sent to the Senate. (Word)
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